My husband continued our series on idols this weekend with a powerful message on the human obsession to achieve acceptance.  Based on the story of Jacob and Leah found in Genesis 29, the message hit me hard as I know it did everyone there.

The sermon was based around how we all chase after acceptance.  Some of us through achievements, others through the approval of others.  My husband began with this thought, "If you give yourself to something other than God, when you wake up, it always turns out to be Leah, not Rachel."  Like when you finally get that husband or that job or have that baby or make that amount of money, you realize it doesn't make you feel the way you thought it would.

Jacob sought acceptance through achievement, "If I could just…" 

Leah sought acceptance through approval, "If they would just…"

I really resonate with Leah.  I spend a lot of my energy wanting everyone to understand me.  Like if people would understand why I did or didn't do something, they would agree I did the right thing, or that I made the right decision. The thing is, I can spend so much time worrying about what others think about me, I have no energy left for what God thinks.

My husband gave such a beautiful picture of how we can stop chasing after acceptance… we must realize that we are ACCEPTED!  If I let everything I do, every decision I make, come from what I feel God is asking me to do, then what others think about my decision is irrelevant.  Do I still want to be understood by the people in my life?  Of course.  Will I still seek the godly advice of those around me?  Sure.  But my ultimate approval and acceptance must come from my Father, otherwise, I will end up chasing a moving target.

I have barely made a dent in the richness of this message.  You should take the time to isten to it.  We have split it into 2 parts.  You can listen to part 1 of the message every hour on the hour this week at the Elevation Experience.  After that you can find it in our archives.

Have a great Monday!

This weekend, my husband ventured out to Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX, we continued our series on idols with a guest preacher, Clayton King. 

Clayton and his wife Charie have been friends of ours for close to 10 years.  They believed in Steven and Holly Furtick long before there was an Elevation Church.  Clayton has preached at Elevation many times, and he always does an amazing job.  This weekend was no exception.

Clayton preached about the idol of greed.  Greed, though usually associated with money, really is the idol that causes us to respond to our sinful impulse by keeping and controlling everything for ourselves.  He said that greed always wants more and always wants it now.

The Bible is full of people who fell to greedy impulses.  Adam and Eve were greedy for autonomy, Sampson was greedy for pleasure.  Pilot was greedy for popularity, Judas was greedy for wealth.

I loved how Clayton brought the message to a practical close with 1 Timothy 6:17-19.  He said God is the cure for greed and the vaccine is generosity. 

This is not a one time vaccine, but a lifestyle that must be practiced daily.  Do you struggle with being greedy with your time?  Maybe it's time to volunteer in your community, or simply spend less time at work and more time with your family.  Maybe you struggle with being greedy with your money?  Are you giving to your local church?  Do you struggle with being greedy for popularity?  Maybe it's time to be focus on generously investing in the friends you do have?

This series is shaping up to be personally painful for me yet so beneficial!  You can listen to the it every hour, on the hour this week at the Elevation Experience, and then later in our archive.

Have a great Monday!